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Work continues on the construction site that once was, and soon will be again, Manuel's Tavern. After previously targeting a July 22 finish line, proprietor Brian Maloof now has an idea of a potential reopening date in mind. Maloof says he and his team should be moving furniture back into the space on July 25, and he hopes to have "everything back in and on the walls by July 28." In a post on Facebook, Maloof explained how the relaunch process will work.
As it stands right now July 25th we should start moving furniture and finishings into the building. Some employees are coming back on that day. I'm hoping to have everything back in and on the walls by July 28th.
A series of soft openings will take place. 4 hour windows of being open. I think I would do everyone a disservice if I just swung the doors open and find out the hard way we were not prepared. Everyone that works here wants to impress, no one wants to disappoint a customer. I want to give every employee the time they need to get back in the swing of things. There's a lot of new equipment to get used to. We're going to need to ease back into it. We are 6 months out of practice.
Maloof previously mentioned August 6 as a "drop-dead date to be open." That would coincide with the 60th anniversary of Manuel's original opening.
The revamp at 602 North Highland Ave. NE was first announced in February 2015. Maloof, son of the bar's founder and namesake, sold the Manuel's building to Green Street Properties, and the developer is planning a mixed-use project that will surround the bar that Manuel Maloof first opened in 1956. Manuel's closed its doors on December 27.
Once the renovation project is complete, Manuel's will lose about 2,000 square feet of interior room, which will become a new retail space, and it will add al fresco seating on a patio. The new mixed-use development will include parking, retail, and 71 apartments.
